Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department for Culture Media and Sport has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value-for-money and; if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department for International Development has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value-for-money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.

Baroness Amos: DfID's anti-fraud and corruption policy provides a framework for all staff to be able to report, in strictest confidence, allegations, suspicions or concerns about fraud and other financial misconduct against the department's funds. All allegations, suspicions or concerns are reported to the head of DfID's internal audit department or posted to a special email address: fraud@dfid.gov.uk. Timely reporting is a requirement; however, should an informant feel unable to use these internal mechanisms, there are other "whistleblowing" opportunities available, for example Public Concern at Work and the National Audit Office. DfID's anti-fraud and corruption policy is available to all staff by means of a leaflet entitled Fighting Fraud and Corruption, a copy of which I have placed in the Library, and detailed information on the department's intranet.

Baroness Amos: The Privy Council office implemented a "whistleblowing" policy in February 2006. This supplemented existing guidance to staff on nominated officers within the department, to whom staff may turn if they have any concerns that they are being asked to act in a way which is inconsistent with the Civil Service Code. The policy also explains the protection afforded by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 to staff wishing to report their concerns.
	The Privy Council Office also has a number of other policies to protect staff and to enable them to raise concerns about impropriety or irregularity, including policies on fraud, procurement, conduct and discipline, harassment, bullying and victimisation.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: The informal grouping of amendments lists are already made available on the internet by the Government Whips' Office, which produces the lists, at www.lordswhips.org.uk. In response to the noble Lord's question, appropriate links will be created from the public parliamentary website (www.parliament.uk) to the Government Whips' Office website.

Baroness Amos: The humanitarian situation in the Palestinian Territories remains difficult, particularly in the Gaza Strip. Palestinians in Gaza receive only six to eight hours of electricity and two to three hours of water every day. Israeli Defence Force (IDF) incursions and air strikes continue. Palestinian homemade rockets are still being fired into Israel. Gaza's border crossings with Israel and Egypt have been mainly closed since late June, except for imports of basic supplies. DfID is keeping close track of the humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza through the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA).
	With technical assistance from DfID, UN OCHA is producing a monthly Humanitarian Monitor report. According to the most recent report, poverty in Gaza now stands at 79 per cent, marginally up from 77 per cent a year ago. However, among families that depend on salaries or payments from the Palestinian Authority (PA) poverty has risen from 42 per cent to 49 per cent in the past year. Average food prices in August were 9.95 per cent higher than in July. Hospitals and health centres in Gaza continue to function, although at reduced capacity. Fourteen per cent of essential drugs are out of stock. More than 80 Palestinian homes and structures were destroyed, 61 Palestinians killed and 146 injured in Israeli military activity during August. Internal violence among Palestinians caused 12 additional deaths and 55 injuries. Homemade Palestinian rockets injured 10 Israelis. The monthly Humanitarian Monitor is available at www.ochaopt.org.
	DfID has made up to £12 million available to meet Palestinian basic needs through the temporary international mechanism. Also, £9 million has been allocated to specific programmes to provide, first, essential medicines and health supplies; secondly, operations, maintenance and repair costs for water, sanitation and electricity services; and, thirdly, income for the poorest Palestinian Government workers, including teachers, who have suffered a severe loss in income over recent months. DfID has also provided £15 million to support Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the wider region, though the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

Lord Adonis: The specialist schools programme is open to all maintained secondary schools including grammar schools. One of the overall aims of the programme is to strengthen and develop the quality of teaching and learning strategies which includes provision for gifted and talented pupils. Specialist schools submit plans to the DfES which details provision that schools intend to supply for gifted and talented students both in their own and partner schools.